Factory second question

[beachgun]

I picked up a Chinook II from a seller on another forum. It arrived today, and I am not very happy.

A Side from the dirty scales, the action of the knife is terrible. It opens fine, but it won't close by itself like all the Spydercos I have had or handled You have to actually push it closed. Upon further inspection, the blade right above the grind is being pinched by the liners, causing it not to close. During that inspection, I also noticed a small notch, rear of the Spyder hole, on the spine. In my readings, it seems as though it might be a factory second.

Seller claims since it is numbered (087V), there is no way it could be a factory second. No mention of the small notch, dirty scales, or the blade not closing as it should were mentioned in the post.

Is it possible for it to be a second, and have a number? I just want it to function as it should, and I have no problem sending it to Golden to be repaired, but if it is a second, they will not warranty it, correct? Just trying to reinforce my argument with the seller. If I am wrong on all this, don't hesitate to tell me.

By the way, thanks for the forum. I have been lurking here for awhile, and have read some great information.

[TazKristi]

Any chance you can post a picture of it? Particularly the notch. It sounds like a "second", but we can confirm it for you as an absolute if we could see a picture.

Kristi

[beachgun]

I will post one in the morning. Thanks for the response.

[THG]

Maybe it's hard to close because the pivot screw or even the body/frame screws are too tight.

[The Deacon]

I'm inclined to doubt a Collector's Club numbered knife would be a factory second. FWIW, I'm pretty sure 087 is/was one of New Graham Knives "store" numbers. I know I have a C95 Manix with it which I got from them. Given the other issues you describe, the notch sounds more like the results of abuse by a prior owner to me, but only someone from Spyderco can say for sure.

[beachgun]

Here is a picture of the notch/mark

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5634/img0737e.jpg


Tell me what you think

[MCM]

More info & link here......

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.p ... ht=factory

[bohica1998]

That pic looks like somebody just dropped the knife sometime. It really doesn't look like a notch in a factory second.

As someone already mentioned, check out Deacon's pages.

http://paulberetta.com/spy101_notched_seconds.htm

There you will see what the notching actually looks like.

My camera is MIA right now or I could show you on my Tenacious (it WASN'T listed as a factory second, but, except for the notch you would never know it was one).

[Brad S.]

That screams factory second to me. The notch looks quite intentional. dropping a knife and causing that would be extremely difficult to do... If there is any way to get a close-up of the notch... just the notch. Spyderco cuts the notches with the edge of a grinder, which means it leave grinder marks... IE directional lines all going in the same direction... just like the knife is finished.

If it were possible to just drop the knife and cause a notch like that it would look scratched randomly (or more randomly) and probably show some burnishing. As well as some flairing.

I have also seen factory seconds with #s on them.

If there is anyway to get a macro shot of the notch that would let me know with almost no question. I'm sure kristi will speak up soon and let ya know what she thinks.

[SimpleIsGood229]

Comparing your Chinook to my factory-second Mini Manix, I'm inclined to say that the mark does not appear to be a factory-seconds notch.

[beachgun]

Here is another picture. I don't think I am capable of taking a better one.

The area in between the jimping shows lots of tool marks. I wonder, if it is a second, if that is why. You can kind of see it in the pic.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5864/img0743e.jpg


http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4776/img0744j.jpg

There is no displaced steel, or burr, around the notch.

[Sequimite]

I agree with Tricord. For the knife to hit at an angle with enough force to cause that dent while missing the adjacent jimp or any other damage doesn't seem doable. The factory second grind marks are done by hand so occasional significant variation is to be expected.

[yablanowitz]

I've dented and chipped enough blades to say with some conviction that is neither a chip nor a dent. It is definitely a grinder mark. Whether it is a factory grinder mark is another question, but I'd be inclined to think so. It looks like a second to me.

[Sequimite]

Nevermind -

[Domanfp]

looks like a second to me..

[The Deacon]

Well, given the shape and location, it certainly could be the mark of a second. That's the simplest logical explanation for it, in spite of it seeming an odd thing for a numbered knife to be. If it were a ding, the metal that was dsiplaced had to go somewhere. It should be pushed out from the blade, on the spine, on the side, on both, or else there should be signs the "burr" was filed off.

Don't know where you got it or how it was described, and don't particularly want to since what happens on other sites should stay on other sites, But, based on the other issues you mentioned, unless they were noted and the knife sold "as is" I'd be looking to send it back to the seller for a refund regardless of whether it was a second or not.

[bohica1998]

Those later pics DO look like a factory second grind. I couldn't really tell that well in the first pic. (sorry, being blind in one eye, I sometimes can't see things with the clarity I have been used to with two eyes)

[araneae]

I agree with Brad, Paul and the rest. Looks like a second. I have a 2nd & it is marked similarly.

[TazKristi]

It's a little tricky to tell, but I'm inclined to think, after seeing the later pics, that it is a second. Give me a bit of time though, I'll have a couple of others on the crew look at it just to be sure.

It can't be ruled out as a second just because it's numbered. It does happen.

I'll post more tomorrow.

Kristi

[Jay_Ev]

I don't have any factory second knives but I will stay tuned to this thread just for the knowledge on how to better identify them.